Chesterfield

Chesterfield's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in health, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed 100,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Chesterfield increased by 5.0%, from about 98,800 to 104,000.

The addition of just over 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chesterfield was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More people cohabiting

Census 2011 data also show a change in family life for many in Chesterfield.

The percentage of households in Chesterfield, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.6% in 2001 to 11% in 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had only a single person, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chesterfield, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 37% to 32%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Chesterfield increased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

This area saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Across the region, only Bolsover (from 14% to 8.6%) and Nottingham (from 11% to 6.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 9.4% to 5.7%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) in Chesterfield said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 62% to 76%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chesterfield decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in social renting

This area saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of socially rented homes.

Across the region, only Bassetlaw (from 20% to 16%) and Nottingham (from 33% to 30%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of socially rented homes.

In 2011, just under one in four (23%) households in Chesterfield lived in social housing, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 6.2% to 12%.

The rate of social housing was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Chesterfield

The number of people in Chesterfield that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 13,000 in 2001 to just over 28,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Chesterfield that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 77,000 in 2001 to just over 66,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 7,800 to just over 7,600 (from 7.9% to 7.4%).

About 700 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 400 in 2001 (0.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Chesterfield increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Chesterfield

The number of people in Chesterfield from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 97,000 in 2001 to just over 100,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Chesterfield from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 780 in 2001 to just under 1,600 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 660 to just under 1,100 (from 0.7% to 1.1%).

Just over 780 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 320 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Chesterfield decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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